Federal court rules against Trump order keeping Michigan coal plant running
A federal appeals court on Friday invalidated a Trump administration order that had required the J.H. Campbell Generating Plant in West Olive, Michigan, to continue operating beyond its planned retirement. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit found the Energy Department exceeded its statutory authority in issuing the directive.
Why It Matters
By ruling the Energy Department lacked authority for the directive, the decision narrows the federal government's ability to unilaterally keep energy facilities in operation past scheduled retirements and clarifies limits on executive action in energy operations.
Key Facts
- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
- Ruling date: Friday (as reported)
- Agency involved: U.S. Department of Energy
- Administration issuing the order: Trump administration
- Facility: J.H. Campbell Generating Plant, West Olive, Michigan (coal plant)
A federal appeals court on Friday overturned an order from the Trump administration that had kept a Michigan coal-fired power plant operating beyond its planned shutdown. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit concluded the Energy Department lacked the legal authority to require continued operation of the facility.
The case centered on the J.H. Campbell Generating Plant in West Olive, which officials had been directed to keep online past its intended retirement date. The directive came from the Energy Department under the Trump administration and was intended to prevent the plant from being retired as scheduled.
In its decision, the D.C. Circuit determined the department acted beyond the scope of its statutory powers when it issued the order. The ruling therefore voided the directive mandating that the Campbell plant remain in service.
The opinion sets a judicially enforced limit on the department's ability to compel a power plant to continue operating against retirement plans. The court's finding constrains how far the federal government can intervene in decisions about the operational status of energy facilities.
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Original source: The Hill